Hussein Shikha celebrates the rich history of Iraqi carpets

With their intricate patterns, colours and design work, handmade Iraqi carpets are something special to behold. For the multidisciplinary artist, graphic designer and researcher Hussein Shikha, they form the basis of his whole practice. Using the “manipulation and transformation” of southern Iraqi carpets as a springboard, Hussein works to understand art and design “from Eastern and non-Eastern perspectives”, and “examines possible shifts towards more inclusive and less Eurocentric perceptions of visual arts”.

Throughout Hussein’s work you’ll find the strict attention to detail required to create such delicate and ornate patterns, so much so that at first glance you might mistake the image for a scan of a tapestry. But look further at Hussein’s pieces – some static and some brought alive with motion – and you’ll notice the presence of pixels, creating a powerful blend of digital and analogue imagery. In an upcoming residency, Hussein will combine his research into “the erasure of handmade Iraqi tapestries” with the idea of ‘beauty’ in relation to Islamic art.

Hussein Shikha: Radiant Nights (Copyright © De Singel, 2023)